On 18 March 2026, Chinese Ambassador to the UK Zheng Zeguang attended the 8th China-UK Economic and Trade Forum. He presented the key messages of China’s Two Sessions and outlined China’s views on the situation in the Middle East. Around 400 representatives from government, business and academic of both countries attended the event, including Economic Secretary to the Treasury Lucy Rigby, Lord Mayor of the City of London Susan Langley, and Chairman of the China Chamber of Commerce in the UK (CCCUK) Fang Wenjian.
Ambassador Zheng expressed China’s deep concern over the tensions in the Middle East. He pointed out that the ongoing war is one that should not have happened and does no one any good. The US and Israeli attacks on Iran, carried out without UN authorisation, clearly violate international law. The sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of all countries must be respected. China does not agree with attacks on Gulf countries and condemns all indiscriminate attacks against civilians and non-military targets. China calls for an immediate end to military operations to prevent the further spread of the conflict and urges a return to political settlement through negotiation. China will continue to strengthen communication with relevant parties, including the parties to the conflict, and play a constructive role in easing the situation and restoring peace.
Ambassador Zheng highlighted the key messages and outcomes of China’s Two Sessions, noting that a clear signal has been sent to the world: China will stay the course of high-quality development, steadily achieve its established goals, continue to provide stability and certainty to the world through its own development, and remain a steadfast force for world peace, stability and development. The Two Sessions reviewed and adopted the Government Work Report and the Outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan, setting key priorities for China’s economic and social development in 2026, and drawing a blueprint for the next five years. In 2026, the opening year of the 15th Five-Year Plan period, China will focus on the main targets set in the Government Work Report and make solid progress in building a strong domestic market, cultivating new growth drivers, expanding high-standard opening up, and accelerating green transition, thus ensuring a good start to the implementation of the Plan.
Ambassador Zheng noted that the 15th Five-Year Plan will bring new opportunities for the world and open up new prospects for China-UK economic and trade cooperation. The urgent task for China and the UK is to implement the important common understandings reached by the leaders of the two countries and the outcomes of Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s visit to China. Both sides should keep to the direction of developing a long-term and consistent comprehensive strategic partnership, enhance engagement at all levels, ensure the success of various dialogue mechanisms, and follow through on the 20-plus cooperation agreements signed by the government agencies, institutions and enterprises of the two sides. At the same time, the two sides should adopt a broad historical perspective, uphold mutual respect, and properly manage differences, so as to maintain the momentum of steady growth in China-UK relations.
He emphasised that economic and trade cooperation has always been the ballast and propeller of the China-UK relationship. The rising turbulence of the world makes it all the more important for China and the UK to strengthen cooperation. He expressed hope that the business communities of both countries will work together to expand trade in goods, strengthen trade in services, consolidate two-way investment, and expand third-party market cooperation, achieving win-win results that better serve the people of both countries. He also called on the CCCUK and the business communities of both countries to make new contributions to promoting bilateral business exchanges and cooperation.
Economic Secretary to the Treasury Rigby, Lord Mayor of the City of London Langley, and CCCUK Chairman Fang also delivered remarks.
The China-UK Economic and Trade Forum, a flagship event regularly organised by the CCCUK, is aimed at strengthening China-UK economic and trade exchanges and exploring new drivers for cooperation under new circumstances. This year’s forum featured in-depth and lively discussions with active participation on topics including “China’s New Opportunities: New Quality Productive Forces Opening up New Prospects for China-UK Cooperation” and “Connectivity and Shared Growth: Success Stories in China-UK Investment Cooperation”.
